Kristian: Saints' harper signs extension, restructures deal

Saints safety Roman Harper has restructured his contract, according to a league source.

We don't know the numbers, but he took a pay cut, and they added a year to his contract. I'm told the new deal has less guaranteed money.

Harper was scheduled to have a base salary of $7.2 million this year. This will now free up some salary cap space.

It also will make it easier to cut Harper next year, because it spreads the money out over a longer period and there are fewer guarantees.

Harper, who came to the Saints as a 2nd-round draft pick from Alabama in 2006, has been a Pro Bowl safety. However, the drafting of Kenny Vaccaro with the team's first draft pick this year has prompted this move.